Move for Moms! Fun Run and Strollerthon: Helping Those with Postpartum Depression
When my first child was born, I didn’t fall into that role of a fabulous mother that I always thought I’d be. In fact, keeping that baby happy was HARD, and almost daily I felt like a miserable failure. I didn’t have family surrounding me helping with the sadness and stress that was starting to swallow me alive. Luckily, a couple neighbors came to the rescue and helped me, and the baby, survive those tough times.
I wasn’t diagnosed with postpartum depression, but I can tell you I was feeling it. More than once I thought about ‘ending it all’ for my baby and me. It’s difficult to admit now, so imagine how I felt then.
Postpartum Depression—and other maternal mental illnesses—weren’t really talked about when my first baby was born 20 years ago. I didn’t know I could go get help, and if I knew, I’m not sure my shame would have allowed it.
So I feel a strong pull toward helping other women who are suffering from what I went through all those years ago. And there’s a way you can help, too.
The second annual Move for Moms! Fun Run and Strollerthon will raise funds for Mental Health America of Georgia (MHAG), a group that supports Project Healthy Moms (PHM).
The run is being held November 2nd in Piedmont Park in Atlanta.
According to MHAG, “an estimated 10-15% of childbearing women suffer from maternal mental illness. Without proper treatment, these illnesses can have long-term negative effects on the health of not just the mother, but the child and family as well. PMADs (Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders) are the number one complication of childbirth in the United States. The goal of this program is to increase awareness, identification, treatment and support of PMADs in Georgia, while also reducing the stigma surrounding these disorders, thereby increasing the likelihood of seeking treatment.”
The goal is that the programs can help ELIMINATE the stigma of PMADs and encourage women to get the help they need.
Just click here for more info.
It’s being held November 2nd, 2014, from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
On-site registration begins at 8:30 AM, 5K and 1K will begin at 10:00 AM.
